Attari, August 15
People of India and Pakistan should defeat the evil designs in the subcontinent and usher in peace and prosperity in South-East Asia.

SAFMA secretary-general Imtiaz Alam stated this at the 14th candlelight vigil last night at the Attari-Wagah check post. The function was organised by the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, headed by Kuldip Nayar, the Folklore Research Academy and Punarjyot and dedicated to late Dr Shivinder Sandhu and Manween Sandhu who had been devoted to promoting goodwill and amity between peoples of two nations. They died in an accident early this year.

The peaceniks from Pakistan also arrived on their side of the border to light candles at the Zero Line. Peaceniks from both sides waved as the gates were not open.

Hailing the joint declaration of Dr Manmohan Singh and Yusuf Raza Gilani, Alam said both leaders should hold talks without conditions. Millions have died since Partition and it was time to deal with terrorism to strengthen Asian markets to usher in peace, he added.

Alam urged the two governments to open visa centres in Amritsar and Lahore to so that people could meet relatives across the border separated after Partition. People of west and east Punjab should be able to visit each other on permit, he hoped.

Earlier addressing the gathering in Dana Mandi, Attari, Rajya Sabha member Tarlochan Singh said brave Sikh General Sham Singh Attariwala, who laid down his life fighting British forces to liberate the country, hailed from this area. He said people of the area had faced tank fire from across the border in 1965 and 1971 wars. Now they welcome guests from across the fence.

Film director Mahesh Bhatt who had come from Mumbai for the celebrations for the first time, said he felt happy people of both countries had realised that violence was no solution to problems. He said even power of one (Kuldip Nayar) could change the course of history and be a turning point in the lives of millions yearning for peace.

Aftab Rana, former Pakistan People’s Party MP from Punjab, said people of the two nations should forget the past and build bonds. He said people were fed up with violence and added there was need to promote bilateral trade between India and Pakistan for the benefit of both countries.

Singer Hans Raj Hans regaled the gathering with “Nafratan layi vela kithon lab janda ha lokan nu, halanki zindagi pyar karan layi thodi hai...”.

The police had to make use of mild lathi charge to control youths who had from far-off places in the border district.

Lakhwinder Wadali, Roshan Prince, Dilshan and Rasheeda Begum also entertained people with folk songs.